Yap Island in Micronesia is a cultural society that believes in its own traditional values and attracts very limited cultures from the West. The hunting activity in this island of stone money takes place in the forests and grassy highlands, which are also perfect natural outdoor places for bikers and hikers. With their interesting history and rich culture, Yapese hunters use archery while chasing game down those breathtaking landscapes. Since it is a trend within the island, many facilities offer archery rentals for visitors that want to enjoy outdoor game hunting.

Even though the bow hunting technology has advanced over the centuries, archery hunting is felt as one of the most indigenous methods of maintaining the culture and traditions in the island. The types of archery bows found in many facilities are made of components such as carbon fiber and fiberglasses, while others have more improved shooting mechanisms. The four types of bows available include crossbows, compound bows, long bows, and recurve bows. The hunting experience here will not be different from what you know, however, it is most fitting for archers only.

Types of Archery Bows You Will Find in Yap Island

Crossbows

You will find crossbows in the Yap Island, and they can be suitable for even those with experience in firearms. They commemorate the ancient Chinese bows that were used during Greco-Roman battles in the medieval ages. There is a short bow attached horizontally to the muzzle, and the bow is drawn through a crank mechanism. They have a string which is attached to a trigger system. The trigger mechanism is used whenever an archer wants to fire. Target archery in the Yap Island utilizes these crossbows because they are ideal for short range firing and a heavier draw weight is required.

Long bows

These kinds of bows define a real traditional form of archery, and they require more practicing and experience for one to learn how to shoot. They were first used during wars in the 1200s and later abandoned in the 16th century. The Yapese consider them as part of their traditional hunting equipment since they are made of a curved piece of specialized wood that is the same height as the user. Unlike the modern bows, these bows lack sights or arrow rests. Hunting with long bows is not that easy because it is actually difficult to aim the target. If compared to modern bows, they are less strong to propel an arrow to a far distant target. However, you will enjoy the challenge while shooting with the long bows!

Compound bows

These are more advanced archery bows, which use a more advanced system of pulleys, cables, and eccentric cams. The system helps the archer to make a full draw without straining too much. Since the bow has a mechanical advantage, the archer can aim a target more easily, and then fire a powerful shot. However, some significant amount of energy is required to draw the bow. Compound bows are made up of metal components, and they are less likely to be affected by changes in humidity and temperature like those bows made of natural materials. Therefore, they are perfect for accurate shooting and can propel an arrow to a relatively far distance compared to longbows. Since they are a bit complex, novice archers may require some practice to master them.

Recurve bows

These are similar to those archery bows normally used in Olympics. They are designed in a manner that the middle part curves towards the user, while the tips bend away from the archer. They have been there since the time of Horsemen, but modern versions have various components such as pressure buttons, sights, stabilizers, and clickers. The curve design gives the bow more power, and less strength is required to draw the bow. If you want to learn archery while at the Yap Island, recurve bows are the best for the beginners. You will begin with a barebow recurve with a string and an arrow rest, a riser and bow limbs for balancing the bow. The rest of the bow components are added as your archery skills grow.

Conclusion

There are many health benefits anyone can get from archery activities. These include learning how to focus and coordinate, as well as strengthening your hands, arms, shoulders, and chest. In addition to archery hunting in the woods, archery sporting is a nice method to exercise your body. As you shoot the target, there is a lot of movement from one target to the other. Remember, jogging and walking are sure ways of making your body stay well and fit. Also, archery is fun and can be used as a method to alleviate stress and depression. It is an interesting activity to shoot an arrow and watch as it flies until it hits the target!

The hearing protection when hunting should be a priority if you normally use rifles. Given the high-decibel sounds produced after firing a gun, electronic earmuffs are very useful to block the excess sound that might damage your ears. These hearing protection devices come in a wide variety of types and prices, ensuring any hunter can afford them depending on his or her budget. Actually, there is no excuse not to prevent your ears from those dangerous decibels because they can eventually cause a permanent hearing loss.

This article unfolds four important things about hearing protection and electronic earmuffs that every hunter should know.

Shooting Protection Electronic Earmuff

Some hunters overlook this fact simply because they have been shooting for quite some time and so far they haven’t experienced any kind of hearing problem. The hearing loss may occur instantly or gradually depending on the level and duration of noise exposure. Remember, different guns have different decibel sound levels. The duration of the sound matters as far as hearing loss is concerned. For instance, the duration of a general gunshot is about 2-5 milliseconds. Therefore, a .357 magnum pistol gives about 165 decibels within 2 milliseconds. This is equivalent to spending around 10 hours listening to a continuous noise such as a chainsaw. This noise is enough to cause hearing loss.

It is worth noting that the hearing loss as a result of noise may not happen instantly. In fact, for some people, it may take even years before losing your hearing ability. Every gunshot sound sneaks into your ears and causes some unnoticeable damage. So, exposure to subsequent gunshots over a given period of time may begin showing the impacts. Continued exposure to the noise will keep on causing damages to the ears, which may eventually lead to a permanent hearing loss. If you have not been using hearing protection, it is not too late. Identify what you want and establish a plan to have your own electronic earmuffs. However, having them may be easier than using them. Therefore, ensure you wear the earmuffs whenever going for hunting.

Essential features for optimal hearing protection

Electronic earmuffs come in different versions with different prices. Generally, the most expensive models have more features compared to cheaper ones. Of course, you get what you pay for. The best earmuffs are those with special features to enhance user experience. For instance, amplified active electronic earmuffs are highly recommended for hunters. This is because they don’t block all the sounds, and therefore the user can hear other low volume external sounds. If you are a deer hunter, probably you want to hear the movement of animals so that you can take an ideal position to take a shot.

Sometimes, huntsmen work as a group. These amplified active earmuffs are ideal for group hunting because you can communicate with one another without adjustments. They can be suitable for group hunting because you don’t need to take off and put on often whenever you want to speak to somebody. Many electronic earmuffs are battery powered and they have amplifiers, microphones, and speakers. These features collect, magnify, and transmit sound at a reduced volume into your ears. Even when you fire a gun, you can as well hear the normal conversation from the person next to you.

Noise reduction rating (NRR)

This is an important aspect when buying your electronic earmuffs. Te higher the Noise Reduction Rate (NRR), the more it will help in reducing the impact of sound entering your ears. Electronic earmuffs come with different NRR, but the recommended models are those with at least 25NRR. The NRR of 25 is ideal if you hunt using a handgun with a low mid-caliber. For those other rifles such as AR 15, NRR of 28 or more is recommended. If you want to increase the NRR to about 33, you can use NRR 25 earmuffs together with 31 NRR earplugs.

Electronic earmuffs or passive earmuffs?

Many hunters get stuck when it comes to either selecting electronic earmuffs or passive earmuffs. The choice depends on your hearing protection needs, as well as your budget. Both earmuffs are comfortable when worn because you don’t feel the pressure inside the ear cap. The available categories in the market include cap-mounted, behind-the-neck, and over-the-head models.

The passive earmuffs are cheaper than electronic earmuffs. This is one of the factors that make several hunters go for these hearing protection devices. In addition to their relatively lower price, they tend to have a higher Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). The electronic earmuffs are battery powered and generally expensive than passive models. They have more advanced features than passive earmuffs, hence higher price. They block excess noise but allowing the user to communicate and listen to other low sound levels. Other features include automatic shut-offs, audio jacks, and volume controls.

About me

Welcome to the blog, The Diveyap is the navy seal of hunting, We do love what we believe in having a good time while doing what we love. Our goal is to create work that is honest as we work hard to get exciting and fun as the end Result.